John Terry: Losing Premier League title to Leicester City “hurts”

Chelsea captain John Terry has praised Leicester City’s triumph in the Premier League but lamented the Blues’ inability to successfully defend the title they emphatically won last season.

The Foxes had the opportunity to clinch the trophy over the weekend, but were unable to cap it off with a win at Old Trafford, instead clawing their way back for a 1-1 draw and handing Tottenham Hotspur the opportunity the extend the title race with a win at Stamford Bridge.

Instead, Claudio Ranieri’s men claimed their first ever English top-tier honour on Monday evening after Chelsea held second-placed Tottenham to a 2-2 draw at home, opening up an unassailable seven-point margin at the top of the league table.

Following the match, Terry was quick to congratulate Leicester and his former manager Ranieri on winning the league, but also revealed that Chelsea are “hurt” from their failure to defend their title this season.

Only five of Chelsea’s 13 shots were on target against Tottenham Hotspur.

Terry – who earns a reported £150,000-per-week (via the Daily Mail) – is set to see his contract expire this summer, and is thus likely ending his Chelsea career on a trophyless note.

“It still hurts us tonight losing the league after winning it last year,” the centre-back said, as reported by the Daily Express.

“We weren’t here to beat Tottenham and stop them doing it, it hurts us conceding it to Leicester but we will be back next year.

“Congratulations to Leicester because they have been superb this year.

“[Ranieri] has been different class, to do what they have done has been unbelievable and given hope to the smaller sides.

“He’s a great manager and a great person. All season long they have kept churning out results.”

The result caps off a remarkable season for the Foxes, who were considered to be relegation candidates this season after somehow avoiding a similar fate last season.

They spent 140 days at the bottom of the table in 2014/15, before embarking on a winning run, claiming seven wins in nine matches.

Meanwhile, Chelsea’s title defence was effectively over prior to the midway point of this season after losing nine of the side’s opening 16 fixtures. The record saw Jose Mourinho sacked and replaced by interim boss Guus Hiddink.